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Two pressures are measured for a blood pressure reading 1  : Systolic blood pressure is a measure of blood pressure while the heart is beating. 2  Diastolic pressure is a measure of blood pressure while the heart is relaxed.
In a blood pressure reading, the diastolic pressure is typically the second number recorded. For example, with a blood pressure of 120/80 (120 over 80), the diastolic pressure is 80. By 80 is meant 80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). A diastolic murmur is a heart murmur heard during diastole, the time the heart relaxes. Diastolic came from the Greek diastole meaning a drawing apart. The term has been in use since the 16th century to denote the period of relaxation of the heart muscle.